FEARLESS -- not only shouldn't you watch this on a plane. You probably shouldn't watch this with a plane ticket. This has the single most disturbing air crash ever filmed -- from director Peter Weir who based the scene on the testimony of crash survivors. less

FEARLESS -- not only shouldn't you watch this on a plane. You probably shouldn't watch this with a plane ticket. This has the single most disturbing air crash ever filmed -- from director Peter Weir who based ... more

Photo: Mondadori, Mondadori Via Getty Images

FEARLESS -- not only shouldn't you watch this on a plane. You... Photo-6243099.84950 - Houston Chronicle

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Aerial view of the set of the film Amarcord directed by the Italian Federico Fellini; on the right, a pile of snow and some technicians are shooting some scenes of the film. Rome (Italy), 1973. Great film, but episodic in a way that's not ideal for air travel. less

Aerial view of the set of the film Amarcord directed by the Italian Federico Fellini; on the right, a pile of snow and some technicians are shooting some scenes of the film. Rome (Italy), 1973. Great film, ... more

Photo: Mondadori, Mondadori Via Getty Images

Aerial view of the set of the film Amarcord directed by the Italian... Photo-6243100.84950 - Houston Chronicle

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Barkhad Abdi, Mahat M. Ali, Tom Hanks, and Faysal Ahmed attend the opening night gala world premiere of "Captain Phillips" during the 51st New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on September 27, 2013 in New York City. First-rate film, but it's a pressure cooker, and an airplane offers too many opportunities to break the tension. less

Barkhad Abdi, Mahat M. Ali, Tom Hanks, and Faysal Ahmed attend the opening night gala world premiere of "Captain Phillips" during the 51st New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on ... more

John Cassavetes, Peter Falk, Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara (l. to r.) at the annual Film Critics Awards at the Rainbow Grill in Rockefeller Center. Basically, anything by John Cassavetes is worth watching, but not on an airplane. less

John Cassavetes, Peter Falk, Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara (l. to r.) at the annual Film Critics Awards at the Rainbow Grill in Rockefeller Center. Basically, anything by John Cassavetes is worth watching, but ... more

BERNIE -- this could be enjoyed in a distracted state, but not fully appreciated, and this film is too good to watch with anything less than full concentration.

BERNIE -- this could be enjoyed in a distracted state, but not fully appreciated, and this film is too good to watch with anything less than full concentration.

BERNIE -- this could be enjoyed in a distracted state, but not... Photo-6243106.84950 - Houston Chronicle

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CORIOLANUS -- this is a superior Shakespeare adaptation, directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, but it deserves more concentration than you might have up there. I tried to watch it while half distracted and it seemed like a mess. I tried it again, when I was relaxed, and it was brilliant. less

CORIOLANUS -- this is a superior Shakespeare adaptation, directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, but it deserves more concentration than you might have up there. I tried to watch it while half distracted and ... more

THE DEEP BLUE SEA -- one of the best films of 2011, and featuring one of the best actress performances of the decade (Rachel Weisz), this is a quiet, subtle film that deserves your full concentration.

THE DEEP BLUE SEA -- one of the best films of 2011, and featuring one of the best actress performances of the decade (Rachel Weisz), this is a quiet, subtle film that deserves your full concentration.

THE DEEP BLUE SEA -- one of the best films of 2011, and featuring... Photo-6243108.84950 - Houston Chronicle

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FLIGHT -- that crash scene is nothing you want to be thinking about. You also don't want to be thinking your pilot might be drunk.

FLIGHT -- that crash scene is nothing you want to be thinking about. You also don't want to be thinking your pilot might be drunk.

FLIGHT -- that crash scene is nothing you want to be thinking... Photo-6243109.84950 - Houston Chronicle

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British actor Daniel Day-Lewis poses with the award for best leading actor for his performance in the film Lincoln during the annual BAFTA British Academy Film Awards. This was the best film of 2012, and it might work on a plane. However, some people tend to get impatient with the movie's first 15 minutes. (I don't.) If you can make it through that patch, this one has possibilities. less

British actor Daniel Day-Lewis poses with the award for best leading actor for his performance in the film Lincoln during the annual BAFTA British Academy Film Awards. This was the best film of 2012, and it ... more

Robert De Niro as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather Part II." Stick with Part I or Part III. The start and stop nature of II, and some ambiguous plot elements, make this better for on-the-ground viewing.

Robert De Niro as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather Part II." Stick with Part I or Part III. The start and stop nature of II, and some ambiguous plot elements, make this better for on-the-ground viewing.

Photo: Paramount 1974

Robert De Niro as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather Part... Photo-6243111.84950 - Houston Chronicle

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Meryl Streep portrays Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." Streep's performance is worth seeing, but the interplay between the real and the imaginary worlds won't work up in the sky.

Meryl Streep portrays Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." Streep's performance is worth seeing, but the interplay between the real and the imaginary worlds won't work up in the sky.

FUNNY PEOPLE -- This is a serious movie, with jokes, not a laugh riot that isn't quite funny. If you're jittery, you might not be sure whether it's one or the other.

FUNNY PEOPLE -- This is a serious movie, with jokes, not a laugh riot that isn't quite funny. If you're jittery, you might not be sure whether it's one or the other.

FUNNY PEOPLE -- This is a serious movie, with jokes, not a laugh... Photo-6243113.84950 - Houston Chronicle

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"La Belle Noiseuse" by Jacques Rivette, starring Michel Piccoli and Emmanuelle Beart. Easily one of the great films of the 1990s -- and at four hours, it could almost get you from San Francisco to New York City. But it really needs the big screen and unbroken concentration to appreciate it. less

"La Belle Noiseuse" by Jacques Rivette, starring Michel Piccoli and Emmanuelle Beart. Easily one of the great films of the 1990s -- and at four hours, it could almost get you from San Francisco to New York ... more

The Italian film-maker Michelangelo ANTONIONI and his wife, the Italian actress Monica VITTI in Venice where they were attending the International film festival. Antonioni made a number of great film with Monica Vitti -- including "L'Eclisse" and "L'Avventura." But the photographic compositions would be lost seven miles up, and it would just seem boring. less

The Italian film-maker Michelangelo ANTONIONI and his wife, the Italian actress Monica VITTI in Venice where they were attending the International film festival. Antonioni made a number of great film with ... more

Robert Bresson And The Donkey, Star Of His Film 'Au Hasard, Balthazar,' in April 1966. Bresson was a great filmmaker, but entirely to be avoided when traveling by air. Too slow, too subtle.

Robert Bresson And The Donkey, Star Of His Film 'Au Hasard, Balthazar,' in April 1966. Bresson was a great filmmaker, but entirely to be avoided when traveling by air. Too slow, too subtle.

Photo: MENAGER Georges, Paris Match Via Getty Images

Robert Bresson And The Donkey, Star Of His Film 'Au Hasard,... Photo-6243123.84950 - Houston Chronicle

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DO THE RIGHT THING -- Spike Lee has made many films that would do well on an airplane, but contrary to memory, this is a talkie, artsy film -- probably the best of its year, 1989 -- but not the sort of plot machine that best holds a jittery flyer's attention. less

DO THE RIGHT THING -- Spike Lee has made many films that would do well on an airplane, but contrary to memory, this is a talkie, artsy film -- probably the best of its year, 1989 -- but not the sort of plot ... more

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

DO THE RIGHT THING -- Spike Lee has made many films that would do... Photo-6243124.84950 - Houston Chronicle

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MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS -- This is a splendid Wong Kar-Wai film, but loosely plotted in a way that's not ideal for up there.

MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS -- This is a splendid Wong Kar-Wai film, but loosely plotted in a way that's not ideal for up there.